Asleep at the Wheel photo courtesy of Bismeaux Records.

Roberts, who's been the Wheel's full-time fiddler since early '96, welcomed the opportunity to be a part of the revamped, revue-style Wheel. "I think everybody got a chance to put their two cents in, and bring to the table what they had, " he adds. "God bless Ray Benson for allowing us to do that..."

Adds McQueen, "One of the things about Asleep at the Wheel is that they always have great musicians. That's what they're known for. So for them to ask me to join and then to keep me in the band, and to let me step out a little more and stand in the shoes of Chris O'Connell and Maryann Price, who were amazing singers – that's an incredible honor. It's above and beyond my greatest expectations."

So, whether your next encounter with Asleep at the Wheel is at a dance or concert, or backing up Willie Nelson via the new disc, or at a live production of A Ride with Bob, you'll be witnessing something very special -- a band that's not only been entertaining audiences with its own genre-busting music for four decades, but also a group that's never been afraid to try something new -- including a reinvention, inspired by the past, that rolls joyously toward a long and shining future.

Asleep at the Wheel History

• 1970 - Band forms in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Play first "big show" opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna


• 1971 - Band moves to California at the invitation of Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, Van Morrison helps the band to get first record deal by mentioning them in an interview in Rolling Stone Magazine


• 1973 - Debut album Comin' Right At Ya released by United Artists, At invitation of Willie Nelson and Doug Sahm, band moves to Austin, Texas


• 1974 - "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" from their second album Asleep at the Wheel is their first chart single


• 1975 - The release of Texas Gold on Capitol Records elevates the band to one of the most popular country acts of the decade, with "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" becoming a top-ten Country hit. Band appears on the first regularly scheduled Austin City Limits (and have appeared eleven times since)


• 1977 - Voted Best Country & Western Band by Rolling Stone, Awarded "Touring Band of the Year" by Academy of Country Music, tours Europe with Emmylou Harris


• 1978 - Their sixth Grammy™ nomination, for the country instrumental "One O'Clock Jump," wins, setting in motion eight more Grammy™ wins since. Band appears in the film Roadie with Meatloaf, Blondie and Art Carney


• 1979 - Their first live album Served Live is recorded at the Austin Opera House


• 1987 - The album 10 scores big with the Grammy™-winning single "String of Pars"


• 1991 - Ray directs the music and co-stars in the film Wild Texas Wind with Dolly Parton and Gary Busey


• 1992 - Band anchors the official Route 66 Tour (66th Anniversary of Route 66)


• 1993 - Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills for Liberty Records, including guest artists Garth Brooks, George Strait and Vince Gill amongst many others, is an instant hit, earning two Grammys™ and a live performance on the Country Music Awards telecast with Lyle Lovett


• 1997 - Old Silver Eagle tour bus with over 3 million miles is retired.


• 1999 - Ride With Bob CD is released by Dreamworks and includes guest performances by the Dixie Chicks, Dwight Yoakam, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Manhattan Transfer and others. The ensuing long form documentary The Making of Ride with Bob earns a regional Emmy Award. The album wins two Grammy™ Awards.


• 2000 - Tour with Bob Dylan, George Strait Stadium Tours begin (2000-2001)


• 2002 - Ray hosts the CMT special Stars Over Texas in Austin, going toe to toe with Dolly Parton & Vince Gill


• 2003 - Ray releases his first solo record Beyond Time while at the same time managing to make two records with the band (Live at Billy Bob's Texas and Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo)


• 2004 - Ray is named the official 2004 Texas State Musician, Asleep at the Wheel launches its Pops program in performances with Austin and Dallas Symphonies


• 2005 - A Ride With Bob: The Bob Wills Musical co-written by Ray Benson and starring Ray and members of Asleep at the Wheel, debuts in Austin to coincide with Wills' 100th birthday. Through the year, further performances in 4 cities sell out and gain critical acclaim.


• 2006 - A Ride With Bob sells out the Kennedy Center, with President & First Lady attending


• 2007 - Band releases Reinventing the Wheel their first feature CD in several years, Band serves as band for "Last of the Breed" Tour, featuring Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard & Ray Price, Ray Benson appears on the Grammy Awards telecast with Carrie Underwood in tribute to Bob Wills


• 2008 - Ray Benson receives "Les Paul Award" from Mix Magazine's TEC Awards in San Francisco, Asleep at the Wheel and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra release pops CD collaboration


• 2009 - Release of Willie and the Wheel CD, followed by multiple tour appearances and Austin City Limits taping, Willie and the Wheel rated 4 stars by Rolling Stone, A Ride With Bob reaches milestones of 50,000 tickets sold and 60 performances nationwide


• 2010 - Asleep at the Wheel to celebrate 40th Anniversary with a range of film documentary, touring and recording plans

Additional Facts

• Ray Benson is 6'7" tall and wears size 16 boots


• The roster of former and current members of Asleep at the Wheel is 80+ and includes many of the finest musicians in the business who have gone on to perform and record with artists such as Bob Dylan, George Strait, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Ryan Adams and many others.


• Asleep at the Wheel has released 25+ feature albums (not including compilations, re-releases)


• Ray Benson regularly provides voice-over talent for national advertising campaigns and radio station imaging. Ray is also an active industry leader, serving as a Trustee of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Chairman of the SIMS Foundation and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians in Austin TX, and member of Board of Directors for several other Austin-based non-profits.


• Ray owns Bismeaux Studio in Austin TX, and has produced projects for Willie Nelson, Pam Tillis, Carolyn Wonderland, Aaron Watson, James Hand, Suzy Bogguss, Don Walser, Johnny Gimble, Del Castillo, Dale Watson and many others.


• Ray launches Bismeaux Records in 2005, home to artists such as Carolyn Wonderland, Johnny Gimble, Leon Rausch, The Texas Tornados, Willie Nelson as well as Asleep at the Wheel and distributed nationally by Sony RED / MRI.


• Ray Benson's Rockin' RB Bar opens in April 2009 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport in partnership with Delaware North Companies, as the airport's centerpiece commitment to the local music culture of Austin, including a live performance venue, bar and signature food service.